Debates body left media ‘in the dark’ about accreditation criteria: judge
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OTTAWA — A judge says the commission overseeing leaders’ debates during the federal election campaign left media outlets “in the dark” about the criteria for obtaining accreditation to cover the event.
Federal Court Justice Russel Zinn says procedural fairness required that notice be given of the rationale for approval or denial as well as an opportunity for applicants to respond.
In addition, the Leaders’ Debates Commission provided no description as to what was meant by advocacy, and there is evidence that some of the news organizations accredited engage in advocacy.
Zinn’s written reasons issued today follow his Oct. 7 decision to allow Rebel Media and the True North Centre for Public Policy to attend that night’s English-language leaders debate in Gatineau, Que.
